Describe four character traits of Darry using details from the The Outsiders

Hard-working: Darry was forced to make several significant sacrifices in order to keep his family together after the death of his parents. Darry did not accept an athletic scholarship to go to college, and instead decided to work two jobs to pay the bills. In Chapter 3, Ponyboys says,

"Sodapop... a dropout so he could get a job and keep me in school, and Darry, getting old before his time trying to run a family and hold on to two jobs and never having any fun---" (Hinton 38).

Serious: Darry is a rather serious individual who doesn't joke around much. Ponyboy initially views his older brother with contempt whenever he compares Darry to his happy-go-lucky brother, Sodapop. Darry has experienced several tragic events throughout his life and has a lot of responsibility. In Chapter 1, Ponyboy talks about his brothers, and says,

"Like he's never hollering at me all the time the way Darry is, or treating me as if I was six instead of fourteen. I love Soda more than I've ever loved anyone, even Mom and Dad. He's always happy-go-lucky and grinning, while Darry's hard and firm and rarely grins at all" (Hinton 3).

Masculine: Darry is the biggest and strongest member of the Greasers. There are several scenes in which Ponyboy comments on Darry's huge muscles and physique. In Chapter 7, Ponyboy says,

"We all call Darry "Superman" or "Muscles" at one time or another; but one time Steve made the mistake of referring to him as "all brawn and no brain," and Darry almost shattered Steve's jaw. Steve didn't call him that again, but Darry never forgave him" (Hinton 92).

Concerned: Darry is a concerned brother who is always looking out for Ponyboy. Sometimes, Darry can come off as overbearing, but he is always pushing Ponyboy to excel at school. In Chapter 12, Darry tells Ponyboy,

"You're not going to drop out. Listen, with your brains and grades you could get a scholarship, and we could put you through college. But schoolwork's not the point. You're living in a vacuum, Pony, and you're going to have to cut it out" (Hinton 148).